Sunrise at Logan Pass where we hiked on our second day. Highline Trail and up the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, over to Granite Chalet and down to the loop. 12.8 mile hike with about 2,000' overall gain.
Start of the Highline Trail at Logan Pass on the Continental Divide.
Warning sign at the trailhead
The Highline Trail is a carved out shelf above the Going to the Sun Road, the views are continuous all the way to the Granite Chalet 7.6 miles away.
Moon setting behind Clements Mountain and Mount Oberlin
Panoramic view along the Highline Trail
There are many creeks flowing over the Highline Trail from the snow melt.
Mount Oberlin and the moon
Another creek flowing down
Another panoramic view further along the Highline Trail
The Highline Trail curving around the side of the mountains,
looking back as the trail appears to disappear into the air
paintbrush in bloom
gentian in the foreground, the Going to the Sun Road below
Loved seeing the wildflowers in bloom this late in the season. Would love to do this hike at the height of wildflower season!
fall colors
Under the clouds lay Lake McDonald
Swiftcurrent Mountain in the distance, in the meadow far below, we watched a black bear foraging.
side trail up to the Grinnell Glacier Overlook, more wildflowers along this trail
Part of this steep 0.6 side trail was wet and slippery!
The clouds have moved and we can now see Lake McDonald in the distance.
Almost to the top of the Grinnell Glacier Overlook Trail
Fabulous view down to Upper Grinnell Lake and the surrounding glaciers.
So happy to see these views!
Panoramic view on the other side of the overlook
We returned to the Highline Trail and hiked to Granite Chalet, looking back along the way we have come:
Side trail up to Granite Chalet
Behind is Swiftcurrent Mountain with a lookout on top
Panoramic view form the Granite Chalet, we can see where we have been hiking today.
From Granite Chalet we hiked down to the Loop.
View to the west
looking back up towards Mt Gould and where the Grinnell Glacier Overlook is
fall colors
Near the end of the trail is a bridge going over a stream by a waterfall.
very small waterfall today
Trail map from the Loop end of the trail
some more flora we saw along this trail today:
It was interesting how Devil's Tower appears to change shape from the various views along the trail.
View down into the valley below
A balance rock seen along the trail.
We saw some interesting rock formations along this trail, and
a variety of wildflowers including cacti blossoms.
More rock formations
More views of Devil's Tower as we continue around the loop trail.
View of the red beds
The trail goes through part of the red beds.
More views of Devil's Tower further along the loop.
Peregrine falcons were soaring above Devil's Tower
On the drive out, we stopped to observe the prairie dogs in a large field.
zoom of a prairie dog
